Workflow-based data analysis with KNIME
Analyze This!

© Lead Image Photo by mari lezhava on Unsplash
They say data is "the new oil," but all that data you collect is only valuable if it leads to new insights. An open source analysis tool called KNIME lets you analyze data through graphical workflows – without the need for programming or complex spreadsheet manipulation.
Data analysts like to use flexible scripting languages such as R or Python that come with large ecosystems of libraries and extensions. But many users don't want to have to write and debug their own custom programs just to analyze data.
Visual workflows offer a different approach. You can use visual workflows to break down the analysis processes into modular, sequential steps. Each step is symbolized by a graphic element called a node. Each node performs an action, which might be a calculation, a formatting function, or another step related to data analysis and manipulation. By linking the nodes on the screen, users can create workflows for complex investigations of the data – without producing any code.
Visual workflows are the central element of the KNIME Analytics Platform. In the KNIME environment, a workflow is a graph with nodes showing a series of sequential steps for processing and analyzing the data. The user defines a pathway for the data by connecting the output of one node to the input of another node. A type system ensures that you can only connect compatible output and input. Real programming code is only necessary if you want to integrate KNIME with R or Python – or if you want to develop your own modules.
[...]
Buy Linux Magazine
Subscribe to our Linux Newsletters
Find Linux and Open Source Jobs
Subscribe to our ADMIN Newsletters
Support Our Work
Linux Magazine content is made possible with support from readers like you. Please consider contributing when you’ve found an article to be beneficial.

News
-
EndeavorOS Mercury Neo Available
A new release from the EndeavorOS team ships with Plasma 6.3 and other goodies.
-
Fedora 42 Beta Has Arrived
The Fedora Project has announced the availability of the first beta release for version 42 of the open-source distribution.
-
Dash to Panel Maintainer Quits
Charles Gagnon has stepped away as maintainer of the popular Dash to Panel Gnome extension.
-
CIQ Releases Security-Hardened Version of Rocky Linux
If you're looking for an enterprise-grade Linux distribution that is hardened for business use, there's a new version of Rocky Linux that's sure to make you and your company happy.
-
Gnome’s Dash to Panel Extension Gets a Massive Update
If you're a fan of the Gnome Dash to Panel extension, you'll be thrilled to hear that a new version has been released with a dock mode.
-
Blender App Makes it to the Big Screen
The animated film "Flow" won the Oscar for Best Animated Feature at the 97th Academy Awards held on March 2, 2025 and Blender was a part of it.
-
Linux Mint Retools the Cinnamon App Launcher
The developers of Linux Mint are working on an improved Cinnamon App Launcher with a better, more accessible UI.
-
New Linux Tool for Security Issues
Seal Security is launching a new solution to automate fixing Linux vulnerabilities.
-
Ubuntu 25.04 Coming Soon
Ubuntu 25.04 (Plucky Puffin) has been given an April release date with many notable updates.
-
Gnome Developers Consider Dropping RPM Support
In a move that might shock a lot of users, the Gnome development team has proposed the idea of going straight up Flatpak.